Hancheng: There is a door between me and the future

Chapter 237 [The Duel of Two Dragons] (A key chapter of 10,000 words, please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
Ten minutes ago.

In the guest room on the second floor of the 25-year-old villa.

As Lin Xiuyuan pushed open the door and left, his footsteps gradually faded away. Shirley jumped out of bed with a "whoosh," a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes.

Holding his phone, he cheerfully typed a long message in the chat box, his fingertips flying across the screen.

Peach: [Oppa went out, hahaha, I think he's pretty flustered right now, Jiyeon came straight to his door.]

Just a few seconds after the message was sent, a reply came back.

Krystal: [What's the panic? Is it because you didn't go home? That's alright, Jiyeon will probably meet you at the bar; she wouldn't bring you back to the villa.]

Shirley couldn't help but smile, her eyes gleaming mischievously, and immediately replied with a few lines.

Peach: [It's hard to say. I don't believe for a second that I would come all this way in the early hours of the morning just to do something intimate.]

Krystal: [? ? ?]

Peach: [Hehe~]

After sending that message, Shirley suddenly had an idea and tiptoed to a window in the room.

She had always kept the curtains drawn tightly, but this time she carefully lifted a very narrow gap, held her breath, and peered out.

The first direction my gaze went was towards the alley entrance.

The darkness was obscured by the shade of trees, making most of the scene unclear, but some sounds could still be vaguely discerned.

The area was eerily quiet; there was no sign of Lin Xiuyuan or the little dragon cub, not even a passerby.

"So fast..."

Shirley muttered softly, her tone tinged with disappointment.

After saying that, she turned around and prepared to go back to bed.

But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the direction of the villa entrance.

Then his body froze instantly, the half-turn motion abruptly stopping in place.

The next second, Shirley's eyes widened, and she stared down, holding her breath.

Without much hesitation, she abruptly pulled the curtains shut, pounced on the bed like a startled rabbit, and hurriedly grabbed her phone to start typing furiously.

Peach: [Help! Help! Soojung~ Jiyeon didn't go to the bar with oppa. They're just standing at the villa entrance. Is something going to happen?]

Krystal: [Ah, what's Xiuyuan doing?]

Peach: [I don't know, they seem to be chatting. Did I give myself away?]

Krystal: [Should I call and ask?]

Shirley stared at the sentence, puffed out her cheeks, her eyes flickered, and after thinking for a few seconds, she quickly typed again.

Peach: [Well, let's see what oppa thinks. I'm definitely fine; it's mainly you, Krystal, who's in trouble.]

Krystal: [Me? What could possibly be wrong with me?]

Peach: [If Jiyeon joins the cult, then you won't be able to monopolize oppa all by yourself anymore.]

Krystal: [? ? ?]

Just as she and Krystal were exchanging a few words, the sound of the villa door being pushed open with a "click" suddenly came, startling Shirley so much that she instinctively rushed to the window.

With trembling fingers, she gently parted a crack and peered down.

Lin Xiuyuan really led Zhiyan into the villa.

Sherry held her breath, her heart pounding. She quickly pulled herself back to bed and her fingers flew across the screen.

Peach: [Oh wow, I guessed right! Oppa brought Jiyeon in. Krystal, I'm not talking to you anymore. I think I need to have a good chat with Jiyeon; I'm probably going to scare her.]

On the other side of the ocean, Krystal, sitting on a sunny street in Los Angeles, stared at the screen for two seconds.

The next second, her eyes widened suddenly, she bit her lower lip, her brows furrowed, and she even couldn't help but bare her teeth.

It feels like every time I'm working away from home, my backyard gets set on fire by my little dragon cub.

……

Meanwhile, at the villa...

After putting down her phone, Shirley glanced down at her home outfit and secretly imagined what would happen next.

She knew very well that Jiyeon in 2013 was terrified of ghosts to the core; she would almost turn weak in the knees at the slightest sound of wind.

So even at 25, Jiyeon probably couldn't overcome this "innate" fear.

After all, some traumas cannot be desensitized, let alone something like this that is associated with "death".

Sure enough, when Shirley heard Lin Xiuyuan call out to the living room from downstairs, "Shirley~ your friend is here."

Shirley couldn't help but laugh as she pushed open the door and walked briskly to the second-floor railing, leaning over to look down.

The next instant, she saw the big dragon cub on the sofa and heard its sudden scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

Downstairs, in the living room.

The dragon cub, who had been able to maintain a calm sitting posture, suddenly had its pupils dilate and its face turn deathly pale in an instant, as if all the blood had been drained from its body.

Her throat tightened, and her voice, sharp and shrill, echoed through the spacious villa, striking the night sky.

It was because she saw that familiar figure right in front of her.

It's Sherry.

But the other person is clearly already... no longer alive.

But she was clearly standing on the second floor, her silhouette under the light incredibly realistic.

It wasn't a photograph, nor did it seem like an illusion; it was something that was truly right in front of me.

"This is impossible……"

The little dragon suddenly shrank back and slammed hard against the back of the sofa.

Her fingertips dug so hard into her palms that they almost broke the skin, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to tear her chest apart.

Reason teetered on the brink of collapse in fear, and the whole world seemed to crumble before my eyes.

She stared intently at Shirley on the second floor, her breathing rapid and intermittent. The next second, her gaze suddenly shifted to Lin Xiuyuan.

At that moment, countless fragments flashed through my mind:
That bottle of "rejuvenating liquid" restored the skin of several people she knew to a youthful state.

—This villa, located in the heart of Jiangnan, has a mysterious origin.

—Lin Xiuyuan frequently disappears and becomes unreachable.

—That “secret tavern”—everyone who has entered it keeps its contents a closely guarded secret.

These scattered details, when pieced together, gave rise to a chilling thought in her mind.

If Sulli returns, it means that death is not the end...

What about Lin Xiuyuan?
Is the person I know a human, or some kind of ghost hiding among humans?
With the recent surge in ghost and hell-themed films and television dramas, the first thing that came to Da Long Zai's little head was this outrageous yet seemingly reasonable idea.

"No wonder..."

The dragon cub's voice trembled uncontrollably, his breathing was rapid, and his tone was full of fear, even a broken panic, "No wonder your physique is so exaggerated, it turns out Xiu Yuan, you... it turns out you are not an ordinary person at all."

Her mind was reeling; her worldview was utterly shattered.

Fear, shock, doubt, and an instinctive shiver mixed together, making her fingers tremble.

Everything before her eyes had completely overturned her original understanding of the real world.

However, after hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan was both amused and exasperated. He raised his hand to rub his temples and glanced helplessly at Shirley, who was coming downstairs.

"What the hell, Shirley? Do you even know what she means by what she's saying?"

Sulli chuckled, gently covering her mouth, her eyes curving into crescents. "Haha, you must have mistaken oppa for a ghost or the Black and White Impermanence from a TV drama, right? Yeah, if I were you, I would think the same thing."

As she spoke, she walked briskly down the stairs, her clothes swaying slightly, her steps slow and deliberate, with a touch of playfulness.

She walked slowly to the sofa, tilted her head and looked at the big dragon cub in front of her, comparing it to Park Jiyeon who had just left not long ago.

Then, she turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, a smile playing on her lips. "Oppa, now it's all good. Jiyeon waited so long for this opportunity, and she finally got it."

"I'm really too lazy to explain."

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Given the previous situation, even if I explained things to her clearly, it would only create more misunderstandings. Rather than that, it's better to just bring her in directly."

Shirley nodded slightly, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Yes, that's true."

On the sofa, Da Longzai sat frozen as if he had completely lost his mind.

She stared blankly at the two people in front of her as they talked back and forth, as if she were isolated from the conversation, her mind filled with buzzing and emptiness.

It wasn't until Shirley walked to the sofa, leaned down slightly, and her eyes, filled with a mix of teasing and tenderness, landed on him that Da Longzai's nerves suddenly snapped back to life.

"You...you are...a ghost? Or something else?"

The stuttering dragon cub's voice trembled with fear.

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned her head urgently and stared intently at Lin Xiuyuan, her eyes filled with naked fear and longing. "Xiuyuan, tell me, isn't Shirley already... already dead? Then what exactly did you show me?"

Shirley simply blinked, her smile undiminished, and the next second, she actually sat down next to the dragon cub.

The playfulness in that smile was exactly the same as what Da Longzai remembered.

Then, tilting her head slightly with a playful smile, she said leisurely, "Ji-yeon, don't scare yourself. Why don't you reach out and touch me to see if I'm human?"

Upon hearing this, the little dragon was struck dumb, his pupils dilated, his whole body trembled violently, and he shrank back to the other end of the sofa.

She covered her eyes with both hands, her voice sharp and panicked, "No! I can't look! You ghosts and monsters can all transform! I don't want to see anything so terrifying!"

Her reaction made the atmosphere and scene extremely awkward.

Lin Xiuyuan paused for two seconds, then couldn't help but chuckle. He shook his head and stepped forward. "Hey, Zhiyan, this reaction is nothing like your usual fearless self. Since you don't trust us, then you should check it out yourself."

Before he could finish speaking, he reached out and grabbed the dragon cub's wrist, pressing it against Sherry's chest without saying a word.

"Feel it carefully, there's a heartbeat, there's body temperature. If it really is a ghost, then who in this world can be considered human?"

Shirley's cheeks flushed instantly. She glared at Lin Xiuyuan, her reproach tinged with shyness, "Oppa, can't you be a little serious?"

When Lin Xiuyuan forcibly pressed Da Longzai's hand onto Shirley's chest, she instantly stiffened like a stone statue.

If initially it was an instinctive resistance and fear.

As her fingertips touched that real warmth and powerful heartbeat, her breath caught in her throat, and the fear in her eyes gradually transformed into an indescribable tremor.

This is not an illusion.

It's not a photo.

It's not a ghost.

The little dragon looked up in a daze, his gaze meeting Shirley's.

Those eyes were still bright, with a familiar playfulness and gentleness, exactly the same as in my memory.

“It really is you…” The dragon cub’s lips trembled, his voice barely audible.

But soon, she abruptly turned to stare at Lin Xiuyuan, her voice filled with panic and suspicion, "But, you clearly already... wait, Xiuyuan, did you find someone to have plastic surgery to look like Shirley?"

Compared to immortals and ghosts, even though he could feel a heartbeat and body temperature, the little dragon still couldn't believe the existence of the person in front of him.

Although this explanation is far-fetched, it at least allows her to grasp some so-called "realistic logic".

But her answer made Shirley laugh out loud after hearing it, and then she gently held the big dragon's hand, even pressing her palm down a little harder.

Then she grabbed her other hand and placed it on her face, speaking gently but with a hint of teasing.

"Such a realistic heartbeat, if it were a goblin, how could it have such a warm body temperature? As for plastic surgery, unnie, feel it yourself. Whether it's bone shaving, fillers, or surgery, there should be some traces, right? Do I have any here?"

After being pulled aside to confirm, the little dragon finally reached out, his hand trembling with hesitation, and carefully explored Sherry's body.

After a long while, her throat bobbed a few times, and her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

Then she slowly withdrew her hand, huddled in the corner of the sofa, her voice trembling with sobs, "This is impossible, Sherry. If you're not a ghost, how did you get here... Why you of all people... I clearly attended your funeral, how could this be?"

Seeing this, Lin Xiuyuan sighed and finally put away his usual joking and nonchalant attitude.

Like Sulli, the two girls sat down on either side of the big dragon, and the big dragon spoke slowly and gently, “Jiyeon, listen to me. I’m not lying to you, and I didn’t hire any actors to scare you. The Sulli in front of you is not a ghost, nor is she an illusion. She just came from 2013.”

“2013?” The little dragon suddenly looked up, staring at him blankly.

Lin Xiuyuan nodded and continued, "I have a time portal that allows me to travel between 2013 and 2025. She didn't die in 13, so she's naturally alive."

The dragon cub's mind went blank, as if a bomb had been dropped on him.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Seeing the complicated expression on her face, Shirley couldn't help but reach out and gently wipe away the tears that were hard to tell whether they were from fear or joy. She smiled and said, "Does it feel like a science fiction drama? Actually, I couldn't believe it when I first found out, but since I can sit here with you, it means this isn't a dream."

An eerie silence filled the living room of the villa.

The dragon cub's heartbeat was still erratic, but it had slowly struggled out of the vortex of terror.

Her gaze was fixed on Shirley, then on Lin Xiuyuan, her voice trembling noticeably, "So Xiuyuan, you're not a ghost, you just possess the secret of time and space?"

Lin Xiuyuan couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, just think of me as someone like Gong Yoo, someone who can open a door to 2013 at will. But I really didn't expect that you, Jiyeon, could even figure out the goblin's identity. It's hilarious. If that's the case, then you and the goblin are..."

"Stop talking, please stop talking."

Although he was quite frightened just now, as Lin Xiuyuan started joking around again, Da Longzai finally came to his senses and hurriedly reached out to stop him from continuing his jokes.

The dragon cub that blocked Lin Xiuyuan's path never took its eyes off Shirley.

But this time, her gaze no longer held fear and doubt, but rather a mixture of joy, surprise, and indescribable emotion.

The person in front of me is not a ghost.

They are living, breathing people, even though it's from 2013.

Staring blankly at Shirley for a long time, the dragon cub finally dispelled the fear in his heart with the real warmth and heartbeat.

It felt like something had suddenly slammed into my chest, and I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. I rushed forward and hugged Shirley tightly.

No unnecessary words.

Only the strength of those tightly clasped hands and the trembling shoulders compressed all the longing and all the past regrets into that embrace.

Shirley was taken aback at first, then smiled and gently patted her back.

"Don't cry, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Unnie, did you cry like this when you were mourning me back then?"

Her tone was gentle, with a hint of teasing, but it only made the dragon cub's excitement surge even more.

According to Lin Xiuyuan's statement, Shirley is still stuck in 2013.

That is, the stage when the smile is brightest and before the tragedy engulfs us.

This is something that the little dragon cub has always longed for but felt was out of reach, but now it has actually happened.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, her tears still wet on the corners of her eyes, and finally let go of her embrace.

Even so, she still held Shirley's hand tightly, as if she would lose her again if she let go.

Shirley noticed her dependence and simply smiled gently.

She had long been accustomed to the same affection and shock that everyone from 2025 would show when they saw her.

However, the next moment, the little dragon seemed to suddenly remember something, and he turned around sharply, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiuyuan.

"Wait a moment."

Her voice was still tinged with tears, but her eyes were full of inquiry and wariness. "So... Xiuyuan, are you from 2025 or 2013?"

Lin Xiuyuan shrugged, not trying to evade the question, "From 2013."

Then the dragon cub's expression suddenly changed, from shock to disbelief, and then to something... ridiculously complicated.

She stared intently at Lin Xiuyuan, her voice carrying a strange questioning tone, "So... you were lying to me about being my fan?"

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but show a look of being both amused and exasperated.

He scratched the back of his neck, his tone helpless yet frank, "Well, I was just joking around with Park Jiyeon from 2013... It was just something I made up on the spot. I really didn't expect you to take it seriously. Even Krystal was shocked."

The dragon cub's eyes narrowed slightly at this statement, his emotions swaying between anger and laughter, making Lin Xiuyuan feel a little uneasy.

So Lin Xiuyuan quickly added, his tone becoming more serious, "Apart from that matter, I have never lied to you. Every word after that is true."

Shirley watched the two of them go back and forth, and couldn't help but smirk, as if she were watching a little drama between lovers.

But the little dragon was filled with mixed feelings.

She was unwilling to be led astray so easily; she wanted an answer.

"2013...?" She murmured the year, and another possibility suddenly flashed through her mind.

My heart suddenly tightened.

Her voice suddenly rose, trembling with disbelief, "So in that other timeline, we're all there, it's the normal timeline?"

Lin Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"Ah."

This simple sound struck the dragon cub's heart like a thunderclap.

She froze, her eyes momentarily unfocused, and she was speechless for a long time.

2013 years.

That was the worst point in my memory.

Even so, aside from the setbacks in their careers, everyone stayed together and still had days filled with laughter.

There was no tragedy, no life or death, no loss.

The little dragon's breathing quickened, and the light surging in his eyes was even more intense than when he had just seen Sherry.

Excitement, anticipation, and longing almost overwhelmed her.

She bit her lip hard, trying to suppress the trembling in her voice. Her brain was working at lightning speed, almost to its limit.

All the clues and thoughts intertwined and converged, ultimately leading to a single clue.

An answer gradually emerged in the heart of the little dragon.

"Xiuyuan, you just said you were worried that it would be better if I knew the truth. So what exactly are you worried about?"

She muttered to herself, sorting out her thoughts, but her eyes were fixed on him. "Let me think... Krystal is Sulli, Eunjung is her mother, Taeyeon is her father. Are you worried that I, who have no ties, will expose this? But if that's the case... what about Yoona?"

"..."

Lin Xiuyuan was speechless for a moment.

He can't very well say that Yoona is an exception, can he?

However, he was also very surprised. The usually carefree and thoughtless little dragon cub was unusually clear in his logic at this moment, as if he had suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

After saying those words, the little dragon took a deep breath, then looked directly at Lin Xiuyuan, without revealing his true feelings for the time being.

She simply looked directly at Lin Xiuyuan and asked the crucial question, "Xiuyuan, if there really is such a time portal, and Shirley can come here... then can I go there too?"

"Let's go, there's nothing we can't do."

Lin Xiuyuan smiled casually, got up and walked to the phone stand in front of him, patted the stack of phones on it, and said, "You think these are for telecom fraud? Actually, they were used by people from over there when they came here in 13."

Upon hearing this, the little dragon instinctively tightened its grip on Shirley's hand, a slight smile appearing on its lips, but it remained silent.

It wasn't until Lin Xiuyuan pushed open the door that she saw a softly lit apartment behind it.

Then, watching Lin Xiuyuan walk inside, she followed him in, led by Shirley.

Finally, with a "click" as the door closed, the little dragon truly stepped into 2013.

The moment she stepped across the threshold, her heart sank.

The air she breathed seemed to have a different flavor, carrying a long-lost youthful scent, unlike the world she had long been accustomed to in 2025.

I don't know if it was a hallucination or a psychological reaction.

And then there's this room, which is clearly just on the other side, which is clearly just a softly lit apartment, but she can feel that the flow of time has been rewound here.

The little dragon stood there stunned for a long time, the warmth of Shirley's touch still lingering on his fingertips.

Only after her breathing gradually calmed down did she speak softly, her tone so light as if afraid of disturbing someone, "Is it really that simple, just open a door and come in, and we can go back to the past?"

"Hmm, why would I lie to you?"

Upon hearing what Da Longzai said, Lin Xiuyuan led her to the window and gestured for her to look outside.

Outside the window, on the seventh floor, the night was pitch black, and the wind howled.

It's completely different from the bright moonlight over there in 2025.

"It is going to rain?"

Lin Xiuyuan glanced at the situation outside the window and muttered something strange to himself.

Then Shirley, who had gone to get some water for the little dragon, came over. She handed the little dragon some ice water before nodding and answering Lin Xiuyuan's question, "Yeah, it seems like a typhoon just passed by in the open sea."

"No wonder."

Listening to Lin Xiuyuan and Shirley's explanation, Dalongzai stared at the scene before him, which was completely different from the villa, and remained silent for a long time before slowly lowering his head.

In that instant, it was as if she had finally found an outlet to confide in.

Her voice was soft, yet carried an undisguised suppressed emotion, "Let's continue with our previous topic. Actually, Xiuyuan, you don't need to worry about me reporting you."

Then she lowered her eyes, rubbing her fingers together in her palms as if trying to crush the emotions in her heart. "Actually, I do have a regret. Although there haven't been any major life-or-death situations in my family, things haven't been very good either."

The little dragon took a deep breath and poured out all the unspoken words from his heart.

"Oppa donated 70% of his liver to save Dad. After that, his body could no longer be overworked. He couldn't lift anything heavy, and he had to be careful even when doing small chores. His body was easily exhausted, and his diet was restricted in many ways. Since that serious illness, Dad's health has deteriorated day by day. Although he has managed to survive these years... he has been left with a lot of aftereffects."

As she spoke, her throat tightened, and she could only take another deep breath to barely suppress the tears welling up in her eyes.

"If we can solve all of this from the source... if we can restore Dad's health and let Oppa no longer be restricted like this... then for me... that would be really great."

Those few words seemed to tear open a wound that had been buried deep in her heart for many years.

The voice wasn't loud, but it trembled slightly, carrying a stubborn restraint.

After a moment of silence, the little dragon suddenly curved his lips into a smile, but it was a smile that looked very bitter. "And my marriage, you all know how it ended, everyone knows. But actually I didn't really want to get married. I just wanted to let my father see me get married happily before he passed away, so that he could be at ease."

However, after she finished speaking, her eyes dimmed and her voice became so low that it sounded like she was talking to herself.

"But unexpectedly, in the end... it still went wrong."

The dragon cub spoke all of the above words in a very calm tone, without even crying or trembling.

But it is precisely this tranquility that makes the story seem even more somber.

Like emotions suppressed for too long, during which even tears have long since dried up, leaving only a quiet self-reconciliation.

Lin Xiuyuan and Shirley exchanged a glance, both seeing the same sentiment in each other's eyes.

They could let bygones be bygones, but they only learned about the marriage from Ham Eun-jung after their late-night snack together last time.

After Da Longzai finished speaking, Lin Xiuyuan looked up at her and suddenly smiled gently, his tone calm but firm, "If that's the problem, then Zhiyan, you don't need to worry."

The little dragon was stunned for a moment, then turned its head to look at him, its eyes filled with a cautious expectation.

"Because Jiyeon here has already handled this situation."

Lin Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then patiently explained, "The lesion on your father's side was detected not long ago, and he has already entered the treatment stage. The doctor said that the early symptoms are not serious, it's just a minor illness that can be treated, and it won't drag on to the worst situation."

The little dragon's breathing suddenly became rapid, his chest heaving violently, as if he had finally broken through the surface of deep water and greedily inhaled his first breath of air.

Lin Xiuyuan's words echoed in her ears.

The lesion has been identified and treatment has begun... It's just a minor illness... It won't get worse...

She stood there, stunned, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

Even though I'm well past the age of shedding tears at the slightest sound, at this moment, the suppressed bitterness in my heart suddenly broke through my defenses.

Her eyes reddened, her nose stung, and she bit her lip hard, trying to suppress her trembling, but a smile still crept up uncontrollably.

"Really? Xiu Yuan, you're not lying to me, are you?"

Lin Xiuyuan simply nodded quietly.

Upon seeing this, the little dragon felt a sudden relief in his chest, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

But she still stubbornly raised the back of her hand and haphazardly wiped the corner of her eye.

Then he chuckled softly, his voice nasal but with a sense of relief and lightness, "I knew it, I actually had a feeling about it."

The little dragon looked up at Xiu Yuan, its eyes glistening with tears. "From the moment you mentioned 2013, I had a feeling that something was wrong. That's why I held back my tears just now... otherwise, I really wouldn't have been able to control myself."

"But I didn't expect that I couldn't resist in the end."

When he said the last sentence, Da Longzai's smile was tinged with bitterness, yet it was as if he had unloaded a burden he had carried for many years, and he felt light and relaxed.

Shirley gazed at her quietly, a tender feeling rising in her heart. She didn't say anything, but simply reached out and gently patted the back of her hand.

The room fell silent immediately.

Only the howling wind outside the window made the night seem even colder, but it also made it seem all the more real.

The little dragon stared out the window at the branches of trees that were being violently swayed by the wind.

After a long while, as if she had mustered up her courage, she spoke softly, "Xiuyuan, have any changes occurred to me here, to me in 2013, and to everyone else?"

Her voice was soft, with a cautious, tentative tone.

Lin Xiuyuan was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak, Shirley next to him laughed and couldn't help but chime in, "You've changed a lot."

She blinked, her tone light and cheerful, as if trying to soothe the dragon cub's unease.

"For example, Soo-yeon unnie has started sourcing from 25 years ago and started her own design dream. However, she was not fooled by Kwon Ning-il. Now she is buried in drawings and fabrics every day. In addition to the schedule of Girls' Generation, she is as busy as a spinning top."

The little dragon listened blankly, a warmth slowly rising in its heart.

"Yoona unnie," Sulli continued, a slight smile playing on her lips, "landed the lead role in 'The Heirs,' and her popularity is skyrocketing."

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if she were vividly depicting a series of pictures.

As for me...

Shirley blinked, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Unnie, I'm writing a script. I'm copying future film and television works from 25 years in the future, and I've already embarked on the path of screenwriting. Although I'm still in the early stages, I feel very fulfilled every day."

Her voice carried a hint of pride, yet also a touch of shyness, but it couldn't hide her quiet sense of self-satisfaction.

The little dragon's breath hitched slightly, and a glimmer of light slowly welled up in its eyes.

"And you, Unnie."

Shirley paused deliberately, her smile widening, her eyes softening and brightening.

"You've already transformed into a female CEO, starting an investment company with oppa. You started your business with a spicy hot pot business plan and the popularity of T-ara's endorsement. And recently, your group has also made a breakthrough in the Chinese market. In oppa's words, you're preparing to go there and give the Chinese entertainment industry a little surprise."

After saying this, Shirley smiled and looked at the little dragon, her eyes full of joy.

"So, you ask what changes have occurred in everyone in 2013? The answer is that everyone has become stronger and more radiant."

After hearing these words, the little dragon stood there in a daze, as if it had been gently struck, and remained in a daze for a long time.

The emotions surging in my heart were even more complex than when I first learned that my father was alright.

Excitement, shock, disbelief, and even a touch of inferiority.

She suddenly felt like laughing, but her eyes were sore.

It turns out that the person I was in 2013 was already on a completely different path from the person I was back then.

Instead of destruction and divorce, that road blossomed with the most beautiful flowers.

"So, I can be this different."

She murmured, her voice as light as a feather, yet trembling.

After saying that, the little dragon looked at Lin Xiuyuan beside him.

She knew that all these changes stemmed from this boy.

The next second, the other person smiled and gave her an interesting suggestion, "Ji-yeon, how about I take you to scare yourself a little now?"

"Ah, now?" The little dragon was a bit surprised, and also a bit timid and nervous. "Forget it, it's too late. I should be in my dorm right now."

"No, we just finished having dinner together, and she went back to her apartment to rest."

At this point, Lin Xiuyuan's smile widened as he looked at Dalongzai. "But it's probably better if we don't go. Xiaozhiyan has been practicing Taekwondo recently, and I'm a little worried that the first thing she'll do when she sees you is challenge you to a live match."

This answer left the little dragon cub a bit confused. "Why? Did I offend her?"

Shirley couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Seeing that Lin Xiuyuan was having trouble explaining, she pulled Dalongzai to a corner and whispered the reason in his ear.

When the little dragon heard the word "marriage," his eyes dimmed instantly.

But immediately after learning that "the instigator was Lin Xiuyuan", his mood changed and his smile was as bright as the early summer sun.

Then, suddenly remembering the sarcastic remark about "old woman" written in the notebook, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled charmingly, "Oh, so I'm jealous that I can get close to you, Xiu Yuan, right, Xiu Yuan~"

Lin Xiuyuan's expression tightened. He pretended not to hear and abruptly changed the subject, "Ah, I don't know, it's raining."

The rain began to fall quietly in the early morning.

The branches and leaves outside the window were pattered by the rain, making a dense rustling sound. Occasionally, a flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating several faces inside.

Lin Xiuyuan casually remarked, "It's raining," thus changing the subject.

But the next second, the little dragon suddenly grabbed his arm.

The whole movement was very natural, and the smile was very relaxed. "Xiuyuan, take me to meet Park Jiyeon here. I can't say about other things, but right now... I have such a good man, and my Taekwondo is pretty good too. I've been practicing, so compared to that kid who's always running around, I can definitely beat her, right?"

Her eyes gleamed in the dim light, like a little fox trying to appear calm.

Shirley smiled, not saying a word, but her eyes said it all; she was waiting to see what would happen.

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head helplessly, but still took out his phone and made a call.

On the other end of the phone, Park Jiyeon's voice carried a hint of curiosity, "Hey, oppa, what's wrong? Aren't you...?"

"No, I just suddenly remembered I need to talk to you about something. Jiyeon, what are you doing? Is anyone at the apartment?"

"Nobody's here. I just finished showering and was about to put on a face mask. I was planning to watch some shows to relax."

After receiving a definite answer, Lin Xiuyuan looked at the two bright-eyed girls beside him, his lips twitched, and he sighed.

"Can I not go? I really regret bringing this up now."

"Xiuyuan~"

"oppa~"

Listening to the two of them acting coquettishly on either side of him, Lin Xiuyuan was completely at a loss and could only sigh.

"Sigh~ Let's go."

The portal was pushed open again, and the sound of rain was instantly shut out behind them.

The next moment, the sound of rain began again as they stepped out of time and space.

When the three of them stepped into Park Jiyeon's apartment, a faint fragrance filled the room.

Suddenly, the master bedroom door opened not far away, and a figure slowly walked out.

With her long, wet hair cascading down her back and a white face mask on, Park Jiyeon walked out with her head down, wiping the lotion off her hands.

But the moment she looked up, she froze on the spot.

Lin Xiuyuan, who had just been on the phone with her, was now being linked arm-in-arm with a figure.

The other person's eyebrows and eyes were clearly exactly the same as his own, or even more beautiful.

The air solidified instantly.

The two locked eyes, and the atmosphere was indescribably subtle.

Park Jiyeon froze, opened her mouth, but before she could speak.

The little dragon spoke first, raising an eyebrow with a lazy and sly smile, "Oh, so young and already using face masks? What a pity, your blood and energy aren't as good as mine."

As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the man beside her, her voice soft yet deliberate, "Anyone who didn't know better would think that...unwanted, unloved old woman."

The moment he finished speaking, the air seemed to explode.

Park Jiyeon paused for half a second, her face mask still on, but her eyes gradually sharpened.

Shirley couldn't help but burst out laughing, covering her mouth and quickly shrinking to the side, her eyes full of schadenfreude.

Lin Xiuyuan stood frozen in place, with only one thought in his mind.

Oh no, a fight is about to break out.

　The voting for the 10,000 votes has ended. Thank you to all the godfathers for your support and votes.

　　Monthly pass count exceeded 9, daily pass count increased by 1.

　　Daily progress bar: 81/89.

　　Please vote with monthly tickets!! Please subscribe!! Please donate!! Please do anything!!!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)